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Dog Shows Are Hard Work

The title says it all, but it’s not saying much of what we don’t already know right? The good thing is that hard work never killed anyone, at least according to actor Edgar Bergen.

Recently I saw the poem “Hard Work” by the ever-so-talented Kaila George, and it got me thinking. So I thought I would share it with you DFR readers in hopes that it will put a smile on your face like it did mine when I came across it.

“Doing back breaking work
Puts a new light on life
Makes you see
How to appreciate life

Getting hands dirty
And mucking in dirt
Makes you realize
That life is hard work

Dusting the cobwebs
And scrubbing the floors
Makes you just love
The hard work
You’ve just done

It’s a labour of love
At a job well done

Now it’s time to sit back
And relax in the sun

You feel happy content
At all that you’ve done

So pat your own back
At a job well done”

That being said, I sit here asking myself why challenge is important? Instead of doing what is hardest, why not just take the easier route?

More often than not, people would rather do what’s easiest and avoid challenges and hard work – precisely why we should do the opposite. There is much more opportunity that comes along with choosing a route that at first glance may seem the more difficult one because then you have the chance to create exactly what you want.

Hard work is commonly connected with positive, powerful results. Some may be able to ride the “luck train” from time to time to get to where they want to be, but maintaining that luck is the tough part, and honestly not guaranteed. There is a chance that you won’t be able to be so lucky again. However, when you discipline yourself to do what is hard, you automatically are more prone to have better results – in life, in your passion, in dog shows, in whatever you want.

Your life will reach a whole new level when you stop avoiding and fearing hard work, and simply surrender to it. So, here’s to a lot of hard work ahead, and many more happy memories in our wonderful show dog world!

Kayla Bertagnolli is a 23-year-old from Ogden, UT, who's been involved in the
dog show world her whole life. A former junior handler who learned
about breeding Beagles from her mother Leah, she assisted several professional
handlers and is currently working to become a Junior Showmanship judge. Kayla
is passionate about photography and writes the twice-weekly blog, DFR. She
plans to continue breeding and showing, and expects to stay involved in dogs "for life!"